Bamboo Fly Rod Builder Blogs: The Lovely Reed Online
By Tom Chandler on Sep 1, 2007 in bamboo
Bamboo fly rod builders create beautiful things, though only a few blog about it.
I like talking to bamboo fly rod builders. They’re inveterate tinkerers, and they’ve always got something new going on in the dark recesses of their bamboo rod shops.
Of course, bamboo fly rods are seemingly simple items that can be built in endlessly complicated ways, and a strong opinion about the tiniest of details can ignite an argument among rod builders (who seem prone to strong opinions to begin with).
Still, I’m surprised by how few bamboo rod builders blog, and simultaneously gratified the idea that they’re busy exploring new ways to do old things. That’s good, but I thought I’d mention a few who are blogging here:
David Bolin
First, the Searcy Sowbug blog by David Bolin isn’t simply about building — and he’s an amateur builder instead of a fulltime pro — but you do get to see his fly rods projects from start to finish. Worth a visit.
George Maurer
Sweetwater Rods is the company of well-known rodbuilder George Maurer, who’s trained more bamboo rod builders than any other living builder. His “Rod Builder’s Notebook” is updated infrequently, but still makes for interesting reading.
Marcello Calviello
This Argentinian builder’s blog has a commercial feel to it, but it’s a business after all, and he’s certainly a fulltime builder who is trying interesting new things. He frequently posts beautiful photographs of his rods, and now lists his rod inventory in a separate “Catablog.”
Classic Bamboo Fly Rod Board
The Classic Bamboo Fly Rod Board is no blog, but it’s one of the rare message boards that doesn’t regularly erupt in squabbling. There’s a wealth of information here about bamboo fly rods — and more than a few builders commenting regularly. Like any message board — where opinions, hidden agendas and personalities collide — you need to take what you read with a grain of salt.
Still, this board’s far better than most, and loaded with helpful folks.
Technorati Tags: fly rod, bamboo fly rod, bamboo, bamboo fly rod builder
Heddon17 | Sep 1, 2007 | Reply
The Classic Fly Rod Board is one of the best ones out there and it’s refreshing to find one that is absent of the juvenile behavior you see on so many of the other fly fishing message boards.
Squabbles do erupt there occasionally but those threads get shut down pretty quickly keeping the squabbles to a minimum.
It’s a great source of info but I do agree that you need to take the opinions posted there with a grain of salt…
Brian
Bastard Mike | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Why anyone would (belch) find a bamboo rodmaking blogthing interesting is beyond me!
A journal would go something like this…
“Today I flamed and split out a rod. Pressed the nodes and ran it through my rough beveler. Tomorrow I will start planing. Wish I could go fishing.”
“Last night my fan burned up. Came into the shop at 3 AM and it smelled like hell.
Finished planing and tomorrow I glue ‘em up.”
“Today I glued. Tomorrow I sand the glue off. Wish I could go fishin’. Took out the trash instead.”
“Today I sanded the glue off and gave her a coat of tung oil. I hoisted a small glass of Mac (as is traditional for me)in honor of her birth. Wish I could go fishin’. I also wish the dog would find some other place to lay down than right behind my feet. Kicked the dog, felt better. Later, I felt bad I kicked the dog.”
Etc.(belch)
Yes…being chained to your bench and listening to the same 5 CD’s over and over again is glamerous…how could you not find that interesting.
I wish I had put the stereo someplace else on the bench so I could get at it. I also wish it was late November so the temps would finally drop below 100 inside the shop.
I wish I could go fishing!
Bastard Mike
Bastard Mike | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Brian,
I lost your contact info in a computer crash. Can you contact me please?
Mike
Tom Chandler | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
B Mike: You’re clearly a poet in rod builder’s clothing.
Frankly, I think a rod builder with an ounce of marketing sense would blog all sorts of things the general public isn’t aware of, like veiled references to a “secret” heat treating process; the unnamed, radically high-tech new glue that precludes failure; and my favorite — the silk guide wrapping thread obtained by unraveling centuries old ecclesiastical garments.
You guys just don’t quite have it figured out yet…
Bastard Mike | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
True…
Would you like the true secret of using thread unraveled from centuries old ecclesiastical garment thread?
Remember you heard it here first!
Ahem…when wrapping rods, one puts a certain amount of torque on the rod by winding the silk over and over the guide foot.
If one simply moves to the opposite foot on the guide and continues wrapping…an undue twist will occur. You won’t notice it by looking at the rod but you’ll constantly be throwing curve casts and trying to compensate.
That’s why (this is the ’secret’ part)we flip the rod over and wrap the other foot in the opposite direction thus negating the torgue and returning the rod to neutral.
Just trying to give a little back to the community!
Oh yeah…before this whole thing gets too far along…I HOPE that everyone knows I’m kidding!
Mike
kbarton10 | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Just remove the “R” and add a “W” and you would have the NSA, FBI, and local authorities rivetted.
Heddon17 | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Hello Mike,
What’s your email address? Here’s mine if you want to send me a message and I’ll send you my contact info.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanks,
Brian
Tom Chandler | Sep 4, 2007 | Reply
Aiyeeeee! Brian, every spambot on the planet will be harvesting your e-mail address were I to leave it up. I’ll forward your e-mail address to Mike Shays…
Heddon17 | Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
Thanks Tom!
Forgot about the spambot thing. I get enough of that crap as it is. Fortunately the spam filter on my ISP catches almost all of it (no spam filter is 100% effective).
Brian
Tom Chandler | Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
No problem. It’s Safety First here at the Underground.
Ian McNemar | Sep 21, 2007 | Reply
Hello gents!
I’m researching a bamboo fly rod that I believe I have tracked down to the Sacramento area.
It was made by Clear Creek fly rods (I think). The only info I’ve found is that Clear Creek fly rods sponsored some charity event for dogs in 2004 in that area. Other than that, it’s as if the company doesn’t exist anymore. The model of the rod is Little Creek, 6 foot 3/4 weight.
It’s a beautiful rod, and I’m trying to get all the info on it I can to sell it through our Upgrade program (selling old equipment through us for store credit toward new gear).
I would love some help.
Thanks,
Ian
Upgrade program
Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters
San Francisco